Back to School.....

Back to School is right around the corner.... which is so strange, because this year, we aren't actually starting school on time. Even though, we're still here in Oklahoma, we decided to not put the girls back in school with our move to Texas coming up. We went back and forth and debated on starting the girls in school, but ultimately, thought it would be easier that they didn't go back and see old friends and teachers and adjust, just for us to pull them back out, move, and start school again. 

But, that doesn't meant that we aren't preparing for the first day at their new school. 

I thought I'd share a few of our back to school traditions today! 

When Gretchen started preschool, we made sure she was set with embroidered shirts, new shoes, and a big bow. 

In Kindergarten, I bought her a little smocked short set, and gave her a fun school bus necklace that she wore for the first several months. 

In 1st grade, we continued the necklace tradition, but she wore a little crayon dress, and we continued the tradition of having her photo made with a chalkboard sign.

And of course, little sisters started getting in on the back to school action too! 

I made Adalyn's little pencil dress. 

And Megan's little crayon shirt. 

Over the years, we continued the tradition of embroidered shirts and big bows :) 

and fun little chalkboard signs. 

We always set aside some time on the first day to make sure we get pictures. 

New backpacks are on the agenda, but we actually don't get new backpacks every year! 

We buy the girls backpacks from Pottery Barn kids, and the girls get at least two years use out of them! Their backpacks are totally worth it and hold up so well.

Most years, I do some back to school decorating to get us in the mood. 

And honestly, I'm super sad that I won't be back to school decorating this year. 

We also get our back to school essential oils ready.

Thieves is definitely a favorite around here, as is geneyus, and our focus roller! 

One of our favorite traditions is Bibles and Blessings that our church puts on. During the service, the kindergartener's were prayed over, received a Bible, and had cupcakes afterwards. 

And one of our favorite traditions, is daddy meeting us and walking everyone to class! We're not sure that will happen this year, but it sure has been the best that he's gotten to do that each year with the girls!

I have always loved working at the girls school, so a huge change this year, will that I won't be with them every day. I have mixed feelings about it, but I'm super excited about a position that I'll possibly be taking. 

 

We try to get the teachers a little gift for the first day of school. We know how overwhelming it can be and we want them to know they're so appreciated! 

Gee and Papaw usually send the girls a card for them to open on their first day. 

And one year, we bought the girls mommy & me first day of school bracelets from Rustic Cuff. 

We all wore them on the first day to help some jitters go away. 

What are some fun back to school traditions in your house? Are you guys ready for your kiddos to head back?

Weekend Wrap Up

Hello Tuesday! I had to take yesterday off of blogging, because I was exhausted! I was able to rest and relax some, but not as much as I wanted. We were busy! 

Thursday night, Gretchen had her musical theater recital rehearsal. Thursday was crazy. 

We left school early, and got her to the rehearsal on time. DJ's mom was in town, so she and DJ came and brought Adalyn. They left for Megan's gymnastics performance (which, I'll have to steal pictures from DJ and share those later!)....

They started with the finale first. Which, is a genius, because then, after your number, you can go home. 

I knew that Saturday, recital day, would be crazy, so we took a few pictures Thursday night. 

After her rehearsal, we met DJ & his mom for pizza in our little downtown.

The girls were given dough to play with, which is always so much fun! 

Yum. 

We strolled through downtown, and made it home close to 9. #whoops. #solate.

We gave DJ's mom her mothers day present, and then started to put the girls to bed. 

Gretchen stayed up to study for a test, while I tucked the little girls in to bed. 

And, that's when things went haywire. 

DJ went out to the garage to grab a drink out of the garage fridge, and noticed water on the garage floor and leaking from our water heater closet in the garage. We had a water leak. 

About 30 minutes later, he had shut the water off, and we were scrambling to pack, wake up the kids, and get to a hotel. 

The 6 of us crammed in to a room, and we didn't get in to bed until around 11.

On the bright side, we enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel before heading to school Friday morning. (Thankfully, he was able to find a plumber and the leak was fixed, and water back on within a few hours.)

Friday afternoon, Adalyn's preschool performed the Three Piggy Opera. 

Do you spot my little piggie?

It was seriously the cutest!

And, this is what happens when you tell her to smile big. 

After school, we headed to look at campers again. 

A few weeks ago, DJ decided we needed a family hobby and that it should be camping. Since then, we've been researching and exploring campers in our free time. We had an appointment Friday night at 5:30 with a salesman, and when we got there he was with a customer. After waiting 45 minutes, and still not being helped, we left. At this point in time, we're still debating, and thinking we should wait a few more months, or even next summer, rather than jumping in right now.

Once we made it home, these little girls had their own dance class.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning for Gretchen's recital. Her studio has two different shows, and we were selected for the early show. yay. 

We actually arrived early! (I know, I can't believe it!) and I took advantage of taking a photo before the show, since the crowds are crazy afterwards!

Afterwards, her little sister was excited to give her flowers, but decided she would surprise her with them!

So, she hid them well behind her back. 

G was so excited!

We attempted some pictures afterwards, but it was windy and sunny. And I was suddenly thankful we had taken pictures before the show. 

Once again, these girls had their own little dance class. 

And then they helped DJ with yard work. 

On Mother's Day, I was able to sleep in, and woke up to a yummy breakfast. 

We made it to church, and as always, had to take our John Wesley picture. 

Gretchen made me a gorgeous pipe cleaner bracelet at church. 

And then we spent a few hours outside. I read a book while the girls played. 

I eventually made it to the gym, the grocery store, and home in time to meal prep before baths and bed time. 

We squeezed a lot in to our weekend, and it was just so good to be home after all the traveling we had been doing!

Weekend Wrap Up: Mountain Climbing in Arkansas

Happy Tuesday friends :) This past weekend was busy, and we're still trying to recover. I love being able to travel, but it makes for a hectic time trying to get back in to the swing of the week and back in to our routine.

Today, I'm sharing a little weekend wrap up and including all the fun we had from our traveling!

Thursday night, I dropped off Megan at gymnastics, went to the gym, and then Addy and I stopped by Lowes to buy a few flowers for her class garden day. She picked out little flowers and a bell pepper plant. 

Friday, I was able to join her during my lunch break while her class planted flowers. 

She had SO much fun!

After school, Megan made her way down to my room and practiced her headstands while we waited on her big sister. 

We had DJ's car, since he was home packing mine for our weekend trip, and I let this girl sit in the front seat! It won't be long before the girls are arguing over the front, and we have a pretty strict rule that no one is in the front until age 12, but.... DJ's car is a hassle to buckle in Megan due to the tightness of booster seats and car seats, and we were heading straight home, so we made a one time exception. 

We arrived at my parents late on Friday night, and then Saturday morning, we were up early to meet my sister, nephew, and niece to climb Pinnacle Mountain. 

I grew up climbing this mountain and when I turned 35 last summer, I wrote a bucket list of sorts of 35 things I wanted to do when I was 35, and climbing Pinnacle with Gretchen was on that list. 

Here we are at the top. 

Gretchen and I were going to climb alone a few weekends ago, but the weather was cold and rainy. We were happy that this guy could tag along too. 

DJ an I at the top. 

Gretchen had fun pretending she was an only child! 

My niece is in the Navy and stationed in Hawaii (lucky girl!), and was home, so we were SO excited to get to see her!

When we reached the bottom, Gretchen played on the playground, and there was an Earth Day event, so we took home a few free plants, and Gretchen did some leaf art. 

We spent the afternoon wedding dress shopping with my niece, and then we came home to play and cook. 

I love that the girls get to experience the taste of the country. They had a blast jumping on hay bales, picking wild flowers, and jumping on the trampoline.

Saturday night, we had a good ole cajun crawfish boil. 

Yup. that's our crazy crew. 

It was so, so good to see this girl! I'm so proud of the choice she made to enlist in the Navy!

My parents have a dog, Ralph, and Adalyn has been deathly afraid of Ralph for the longest time. He's kind of an ugly dog, and I mean that in the nicest way possible :) She's finally warmed up to him and we found her kissing and talking to him. She's my little dog lover.

And hey, check out this cake my mom made for Shelby's welcome home party :) 

After dinner, Shelby asked all of the girls to be the flower girls in her wedding! They are SO excited! Especially because they get to wear a pretty dress too!

Sunday morning, I walked in to my mom's kitchen to find the girls watching The Greatest Showman on the iPad. 

And we loaded up and headed home mid morning on Sunday. And y'all, if you travel or road trip, then you basically need this oil. One child was throwing a fit because there was "nothing to do" and telling us we are the "worst parents ever".... so, I grabbed this bottle of oil, and swiped a bit on Megan and Adalyn's wrists. It wasn't too long before Adalyn was asleep and Megan had calmed down. 

I spent the rest of Sunday at the grocery store, and lunch prepping, while these girls practiced gymnastics.

DJ went to the gym to run, and I made smoothies for the girls for dinner.

It was a busy weekend, and we're looking forward to another get away this weekend!